Crystal inserter



Aug. l l, 1936.

E. JUNoD CRYSTALl INSERTER Filed March 28, 1935 Milz.

Patented ug. 1v1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 28,1935, Serial No. 13,553 In Switzerland April 11, 1934 claims. (ci.29-84) This invention relates to crystal inserters, par-- ticularly todevices for inserting non-breakable and non-circular watch crystals andbelonging to the type of those comprising two tools which are 5 movableone relative to the other and of which one serves as support for thebezel into which the crystal is inserted, while the other serves to pushthe edge oi the crystal into the crystal receiving groove of the bezel.

The primary object of the invention is to proe vide a crystal inserterof the above type which does not exert any vexcessive stress on watchbezels, even on very small and weak bezels which do not permit 'muchopening, and which may 15 even be used with bezels of jewelry.

A further object is the provision of a crystal inserter .which enablesthe inserting operation to be done rapidly by adapting the device tooperate on all possible types and shapes of bezels, and

also permits the inserting' operation to be done under high pressurewhich it is impossible to obtain by hand insertion, and which isequivalent to the p-ressure applied with the inserting devices usedheretofore for inserting non-breakable circular crystals in circularbezels.

Other objects will appear from the following description of a preferredembodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing in which, v Y l Figure l is a side elevation of a crystalinserter according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the lower portion of the device.

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of the cooperating tools in twodifferent positions of operation.

The represented apparatus comprises a frame i mounted on a base plate 2provided with holes 3 permitting the apparatus to be secured on a standor bench.

A plate 30 is mounted on the base 2 and carries a horizontal disk orturntable 4 which canv turn about a trunnion screw 5. The disk 4 carriestwo supporting tools 6 and 'l extending along a diameter of the disk.This disk is provided with two diametrically opposed recesses 8 and 9,the diameter on which the same are placed extending at iight angles tothe diameter on which are placed the tools 6 and l. The two recessesserve to lock the disk 4 in two different positions at an angle of 180one from the other, by means of a bolt I0 pivoted on a pin 31 andsubjected to the action of a spring 38 tending to maintain the boltengaged in the slot of the disk.

A projecting portion 3| of the plate 30 engages a slot in the base 2.The screw 5 screws into a clamping plate 32 which is slightly largerthan 5 the4 slot and pulls the plate 32 against the plate 30 which isthus xed to the base 2. The clamping plate 32 carries a pin 39 whichtraverses an oblong hole 40 provided in a lever 33 pivoted at 34 andoperable by a nut 36 screwing on a stud l0 35 of the lever 33 whichpenetrates through a slot 45 of the base member 2. This mechanismpermits adjustment of the disk 4 with the tools 6 and 'I relative to theother parts of the apparatus. l5

The frame I forms an arm II the free end of which is provided with twovertical bores of rectangular cross section in which are slidablymounted two bars I2 and I3 of corresponding cross section. The lower endof each bar forms 20 a socket I4 of larger cross section than the barsso as to limit the upwards movement of the bars. In each socket I4 ismounted a block I5 and I6, respectively, of a resistant but somewhatresilient material, as for example libre or ebonite. 25 The two bars I2and I3 carry eachan upwardly extending rod Il and I8 serving to hold aspring I9 inserted between a washer 20 carried on the arm I I -and a nut2| screwed on the top of each rod I1 and I8 and operable to adjust thepressure 30 of the spring I9 which maintains the bars I2 and I3 in theirraised position.

The bar I2 carries a pin 22 extending laterally through a slot 23provided in the arin II and engaging a slot 25 provided' in a lever 24which 35 is pivoted on the arm II. When actingl on the lever 24 indirection of the arrow J, the bar I2 can be lowered against the actionof the spring I9v which returns the bar to its raised position as soonas the lever 24 is released. 40

A similar operating mechanism, comprising a lever 26, is provided on theother side of the arm Il for lowering the bar I3.

As it can be seen in Figure l, the bar I2 is positioned so that its endI5 can coact with the 45 supporting tool 6 when the disk 4 is in therepre/- sented position. When the disk is turned through the supportingtool 1 arrives in a position in which it can coact with the end I6 oithe bar I3.

The described apparatus operates in the fol- 50 lowing manner: First thedisk 4 is brought to the position shown in Figure 1. After the crystal43 has been placed over the bezel 42 which, as shown in Fig. 4, ishingedly connected at 44 to the back 4I of a watch case, the bezel isplaced 55 over the end face 28 of the supporting tool 6. Then the lever24 is actuated to lower the bar I2 and the block I5 presses on the edgeof the crystal in order to introduce it into the groove 21 of the bezel.This bezel can be moved to various positions on the support E and thecrystal will be inserted in its groove along the entire contour of thebezel except on that side on which is disposed the hinge 44 of the watchcase. Then the disk 4 is turned through 180 and the part of the bezeladjacent the hinge 44 is placed on the support l (Fig. 5). 'Ihen thelever 26 is actuated to press the block I6 on that edge of the crystalwhich is situated adjacent the hinge d4 and to insert also this edgeinto the groove of the bezel.

In order to avoid any damage of the bezel, the faces of the tools 6 and1, are `coated with lead, tin, leather or other materials which, thoughbeing quite resistant, are slightly yielding. Thus the edge of the bezelmakes a slight impression on the face of the suporting tool wherebyguiding of the bezel by hand is facilitated.

The working faces 28 and 29 are relatively large compared with that ofthe supporting tools of known inserting devices. This face of the tools6 and 1 is large enough in radial direction relative to the bezel placedon it, that the bezel bears on this face simultaneously with theinternal face of its peripheral wall and with the internal edge situatedbeneath the crystal receiving groove, as appears from Figur-es 4 and 5,while the supporting face is also large in longitudinal directionrelative to the bezel so that an important fraction of the length of thebezel rim bears on this face. The faces 2l and 28 are inclined inopposed directions relative to the horizontal when they are in workingposition. The purpose of this inclination is that the pressure exertedon the crystal is slightly inwardly directed relative to the bezel.

In practice it will not be necessary at all times to use the insertingtool I5 together with the supporting tool 6 and the tool I 6 with thesupport 1; there may be cases in which it will be advantageous to havethe tool I5 coact with the support "I, and the tool I 6 coact with thesupport 6.

The levers 24 and 26 could be pivoted at a point of the frame situatedso that in order to lower the slidable tools I5 and I8, these leverswould have to be turned in a direction opposite to that indicated by thearrow f. These slidable tools could also be arranged for being actuatedby means of foot pedals instead of hand levers.

It is also possible, instead of mounting the tools on the xed frame I,to mount the turntable 4 with the supporting tools on one jaw of a pairof pliers and the inserting tools I5 and I 6 on the other jaw.

The described apparatus is particularly advantageous for insertingcrystal into bezels which are decorated with precious stones and wherethe supporting tool may not bear on the bezel at any other place than onthe internal rim which is provided with the crystal receiving groove.

I claim:-

1. A crystal inserter comprising a frame, a bezel supporting toolcarried by the frame, said tool having a bearing face adapted to supportthe bezel over the entire width of the bezel and over an importantfraction of the length of the band, a movable inserting tool adapted toexert pressure on the edge of the crystal for inserting the same in thecrystal receiving groove of the bezel, said inserting tool beingslidably mounted on said frame, and an operating lever for moving saidinserting tool.

2. A crystal inserter comprising a frame, a crystal inserting toolslidably mounted on the frame, a turntable pivoted on the frame, twobezel supporting tools mounted on the turntable whereby one or the otherof the supporting tools may be brought into working position forcoacting with the inserting tool, and means for moving the insertingtool towards and away from the supporting tool in working position,whereby the inserting tool may be moved to engage an edge of thepartially fitted crystal and insert it in the crystal receiving groovein the bezel placed on the supporting tool.

3. A crystal inserter comprising a frame, a crystal inserting toolslidably carried by the frame, a turntable slidably and pivotallymounted on the frame, two bezel supporting tools carried by theturntable whereby one or the other of the supporting tools may bebrought into working position for coacting with the inserting tool,means for locking the turntable against pivotal movement when one of theSupporting tools is in working position, means for locking the worktable against sliding movement, and means for moving the inserting thesupporting tool in working position.

4. A crystal inserter comprising an inserting tool and a bezelsupporting tool movable relative to each other, the bezel supportingtool being provided with a bearing surface adapted to engage the bezel,and the inserting tool having a crystal engaging end positioned relativeto the supporting tool in such relation that upon a movement towardseach other of the two tools in the absence of a bezel and crystal, thecrystal engaging end abuts against the bearing surface of the bezelsupporting tool.

5. A crystal inserter comprising a frame, a bezel supporting toolcarried by the frame, said tool having a bearing surface adapted tosupport the bezel over a substantial area thereof, a crystal insertingtool adapted to exert pressure on the edge of the crystal for insertingthe same in the crystal receiving groove of the bezel,

said inserting tool being slidably mounted on said frame to move towardsthe bezel supporting tool in such direction that in absence of a bezeland crystal the end of the inserting tool abuts against the bearingsurface of the supporting tool, and actuating means for moving saidinserting tool.

EDMOND J UNOD.

tool towards and away from

